Lid and mtjsic rack foe pianos



. (No' Model.)

HANSING.. LID AND MUSIC RACK FOR PIANOS.

Patented Dec. 9, 1890.-

l/V I/ENTOR WITNESSES:

1 U ITED STATES PATENT om n.)

SIEGFRIED HANSING, OF NE\V YORK, N..Y.

LID AND MUSCFRACK FOR PIANOS.

I SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 442,373, dated December 9, 1890.

Application filed July 12, 1890. Serial No. 358,483. (No model.)

T0 ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Sruernmo HANSING, of the city, county, and State of New York, a citizen of the German Empire, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Lids and Music Racks for Upright Pianos, of which the following is a specification.

In upright pianos the music-racks were either arranged on the lid, in which case the music was supported too close to the key-board and in a somewhat low position for the eyes of the player, or the 111 usic-rack was arranged in combination with aswinging panel hinged to the front wall of the piano, in which case, however, the music was supported at too high an elevation, so as to bev somewhat inconvenient in turning the music.

The object of this invention is to furnish an improved lid and music rack for upright pianos by which the defects above mentioned are obviated and the music supported ata proper and convenient height above the keyboard, so as to be readily read off by the eyes and handled in turning the leaves; and the invention consists of an improved lid and music-rack for upright pianos in which the lid is formed of two hinged sections, a curved front section, and a rear section, the latter being guided by pins in slotted plates or the end walls of the key-board, so as to be adapted to be moved from a horizontal into a vertical position, and vice versa, while the curved front section is provided at its under side with a projecting ledge that serves as a support for the music when the lid is in open position, or as astay for the lid-sections when they are in closed position. The hinge-joint between the sections of the lidis so constructed that the sections are retained either in line with each other when in closed position or at right angles to each other when in open position, as will be fully described hereinafter, and finally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a vertical longitudinal section of my improved lid and music-rack for upright pianos, said figure showing the lid in closed position. Fig. 2 is a similar sect-ion showing the lid in open position, so as to form a musicrack, and Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical sections of the hinge-joint connecting the two lid-sections, showing them respectively in closed and in open position, said figures being drawn 011 a larger scale than Figs. 1 and 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, lid of my improved uprightpiano, which lid is formed of two sections a and a, of which the rear section a is guided by pins 1) in. slots 1) and b of metallic guide-plates B, attached to the end walls of the keyboard of an upright-piano case. The slot 1) of the guideplates B is arranged parallel to the upper edge of the plates B, while the slot 12 is slightly curved and arranged at a suitable downward inclination to the horizontal slot 1), said slots serving to guide the pins 1) of the rear section a, in such a manner that the rear section of the lid A can be moved from its horizontal position, shown in Fig. 1, into the vertical position, shown in Fig. 2, it being guided during its backward and forward motion by the pins'b in the slots 1) b of the guide-plates B. The rear section a of the lid serves, when in its vertical position, as shown in Fig. 2, as the front wall of the key-board.

The curved front section a of the lid A is hinged to the rear section a in such a manner that the sections are in line with each other when the lid is in closed position, but supported at right angles to each other when it is in open position, in which case the leaves of the hinge O abut at their beveled off corners, so as to form steps by which the curved lid-section a is retained in upright position.

To the under side and rear edge of the curved front section Cb-lS applied a projecting ledge D of the same width as the music-racks ordinarily used in upright pianos. The ledge D serves, in connection with the middle panel of the front wall of the upright-piano case, as a rack for supporting the music placed thereon. The ledge D also serves as a stay for the lid-section a and a, when the lid A is in closed position, so that no sagging at the hinge-joint can take place.

hen it isdesired to open the lid the front section is taken hold of and moved on its hinge-connection with the rear section a into upward position. Simultaneously with this motion the rear section 0/ swings by-its double pivot-connection with the slotted guide-plates into vertical position, as shown in Fig. 2. The

A represents the backward motion of the front section is then continued until the same is supported by the beveled abutting edges of the leaves of the hinge in a position at right angles to the upright rear section in which position the ledge D is ready to receive the music in the usual manner. By this construction the music is supported at the proper height for the eyes and hands so as to be of great convenience when in use, while the music-rack is entirely out of the way when the lid is closed, the whole being of simple and easily-operated construction.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. A lid formed of two sections, a rear section that is pivoted to the end walls of the piano-case, and a front section hinged to said rear section and provided with a projecting ledge that extends in backward direction, so as to act as a music-rack when the lid is in open position and as a stay for the lid-sections when the lid is in closed position, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with slotted guideplates attached to the end walls of a keyboard of an upright piano, of a lid formed of a rear section pivoted to said guide-plates, a curved front section, a stop-hinge connecting the front and rear sections, and a ledge that extends beyond the rear edge of the front section, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of guide-plates attached to the end walls of the keyboard of an upright-piano case, said plates having each two slots-a straight upper slot and a downwardly extend in glower sl0twith alid formed of two sections, the rear section being pivoted by pins to the slotted plates and by a stophinge with the front section, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SIEG FRI ED IIANSING.

Witnesses:

PAUL GOEPEL, W. REIMHERR. 

